This is a developmental Pathways Internship position located in the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), located in Washington, DC.
THIS IS A PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP POSITION WHICH MAY CONFER NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY TO A PERMANENT OR TERM POSITION.
RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.
THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
Summary
This is a developmental Pathways Internship position located in the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), located in Washington, DC.
THIS IS A PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP POSITION WHICH MAY CONFER NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY TO A PERMANENT OR TERM POSITION.
RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.
THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a part-time/full-time position. Work schedules, including telework, are at the discretion of the supervisor, consistent with agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.
Appointment type
Internships - This is a Pathways Internship appointment. Upon meeting all Pathways program requirements, may be non-competitively converted to a permanent, competitive service position.
This job is open to current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Those in Registered Apprenticeship Programs and Job Corps programs are also eligible to apply. This is a Pathways Internship position which may confer eligibility for non-competitive conversion to a permanent or term appointment.
This is an Intern position in the Pathways Program.
The incumbent of this position will serve as Paralegal Intern (Student Trainee). Provides paralegal and administrative support to the OIG in connection with complex and highly sensitive investigations and criminal and civil legal proceedings. These investigations may involve program funding recipients and beneficiaries, contractors, senior career and appointed officials of the Commission or other agencies, senior professionals within industry, law enforcement personnel from various jurisdictions, and criminal and civil defendants and their counsel. The alleged violations investigated include, but are not limited to, fraud, false statements, conflict of interest, bribery, theft, kickbacks, antitrust, conspiracy, procurement integrity, and violations of the standards of ethical conducts.
Prepares Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses. Incumbent is responsible for receipt of requests, performing a reasonable search for responsive documents, determining whether documents provided in response to a search request are responsive, determining the applicability of exemptions, preparing FOIA responses for signature and release, then releasing documents documenting each step internally and using appropriate applications to assist with the task. The incumbent also coordinates with requestors and other stakeholders on FOIA matters. This coordination includes, but is not limited to, working with requestors to clarify requests, and consulting with external Federal partners on documents.
Must be actively enrolled in a Master's degree program
Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
Education-Transcripts Required.
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria.
Must be actively enrolled in a master's or equivalent degree program.
Must be enrolled in a school that has been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Must be enrolled at least half-time as defined by your school.
Must be in good academic standing (i.e., must have at least a 3.0 GPA or its equivalent).
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, you should only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You may verify accreditation at the following website: http:www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed will be verified.
US Citizen or if you are not a citizen you must meet one the following criteria: 1. owe permanent allegiance to the United States (for example, natives of American Samoa and Swains Island); 2. be a lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); or 3. be admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or have been granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and have filed a declaration of intention to become lawful permanent resident and then citizen when eligible.
Qualifications
Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Specialized Experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience in or equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.
GS-09
In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must meet the qualification criteria; Part A and Part B.
A. Education: Must be actively enrolled in a master's or equivalent degree program.
Applicants are required to submit transcripts (unofficial or official) by the closing date of the announcement. If transcripts are not submitted by the closing date of the announcement, the application will be rated as ineligible.
AND
B. Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-7 Federal grade level performing legal research; reviewing and summarizing information in a prescribed form on case precedents and decisions; and preparing written analysis of legal questions containing well-supported conclusions and citations.
SME REVIEW
At the time of application you are required to take an external skills-based assessment which is based upon government-wide recognized competencies and consistent with OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements and the Chance to Compete Act. Should you receive a passing score of 70 or higher, your application will be reviewed by subject matter experts to determine if you meet the OPM qualification requirements for this position.
Pathways Program - U.S. CITIZEN OR NON-U.S.CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
There is no U. S. citizenship requirement to participate in the Pathways Programs. HOWEVER, U. S. citizenship is a requirement for conversion to the competitive service via a term or permanent appointment. **Non-U.S. citizens may apply to the Pathways Internship Program as current students or recent graduates and be employed; however, the student must have been lawfully admitted into the United States as a permanent resident or otherwise authorized to be employed in the Pathways Internship Program. NOTE: A non-citizen student may not be converted to career-conditional employment in the competitive service unless they are U.S. citizens at the time of conversion. Additionally, applicants must be a U.S. citizen for positions that require security clearances.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:
Health Insurance Life Insurance Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Long-Term Care Insurance Holidays and Leave Retirement Thrift Savings Plan Transit Benefit Alternative Work Schedule Telecommuting
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.
1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. 2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. 3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. 4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.
There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:
1. the core questions 2. supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, Transcripts, Schedule A Letter), if applicable; and 3. cover letter describing interest in the position 4. resume, writing sample, etc.
Applicants may be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions, provide supplemental documents and submit a resume.
What is the Rule of Many
The FCC adheres to the Rule of Many. The Rule of Many means that more than one applicant can be referred to the hiring manager, not just the top few, nor will candidates be placed into scored qualification categories (i.e. Best Qualified, Fully Qualified, Minimally Qualified).
Everyone who meets minimum qualifications and scores 70 or higher may be referred, even if many applicants qualify. There is no fixed limit on how many people can be referred.
What this Means for Applicants
You do not need to be the highest scorer
You do need to meet qualifications and score at least 70
Multiple applicants can be considered fairly
Selection is based on overall qualifications, not just test scores
Veterans preference applies
SME REVIEW
At the time of application you are required to take an external skills-based assessment which is based upon government-wide recognized competencies and consistent with OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements and the Chance to Compete Act. Should you receive a passing score of 70 or higher, your application will be reviewed by subject matter experts to determine if you meet the OPM qualification requirements for this position.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including:
Health Insurance Life Insurance Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Long-Term Care Insurance Holidays and Leave Retirement Thrift Savings Plan Transit Benefit Alternative Work Schedule Telecommuting
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information
Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022)
The number of hours you worked per week
Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.
Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.
Resume
Copy of your transcripts showing total credit hours earned and cumulative GPA.
Veterans MUST submit form DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," or an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.
Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements.
Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process
If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Apply Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Apply Government Solutions Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
Federal Communications Commission
45 L St NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20554
United States
Next steps
Applicants are required to take an online skills-based assessment consistent with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan and the Chance to Compete Act. For non-supervisory positions, the estimated time to complete the assessment is approximately 1 hour. For supervisory positions the estimated time to complete the assessment is approximately 1 ½ hours.
Please review all instructions prior to beginning the assessment. You will have the opportunity through the assessment module to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. The FCC will review such requests and will contact you directly, if needed. If you have questions about the accommodations process or a request, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement. The external assessment meets or exceeds the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Once the announcement has closed and the qualifications review process has been completed, the best-qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information
Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022)
The number of hours you worked per week
Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.
Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.
Resume
Copy of your transcripts showing total credit hours earned and cumulative GPA.
Veterans MUST submit form DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," or an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.
Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements.
Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process
If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Apply Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Apply Government Solutions Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
Federal Communications Commission
45 L St NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20554
United States
Next steps
Applicants are required to take an online skills-based assessment consistent with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan and the Chance to Compete Act. For non-supervisory positions, the estimated time to complete the assessment is approximately 1 hour. For supervisory positions the estimated time to complete the assessment is approximately 1 ½ hours.
Please review all instructions prior to beginning the assessment. You will have the opportunity through the assessment module to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. The FCC will review such requests and will contact you directly, if needed. If you have questions about the accommodations process or a request, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement. The external assessment meets or exceeds the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Once the announcement has closed and the qualifications review process has been completed, the best-qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
